About Caña Flecha

What is Caña Flecha?

Our bags are handcrafted using caña flecha, a natural fiber harvested from a palm native to the humid lowlands of Córdoba and Sucre, Colombia. Known as Gynerium sagittatum, this plant has been used for centuries by the Zenú people, who have passed down the art of weaving through generations.

The ancestral craftsmanship of the Zenú, especially the tradition of weaving with caña flecha, has been recognized by UNESCO as part of Colombia’s intangible cultural heritage, honoring its cultural significance and the artisans who preserve it.

From Nature to Craft

The process begins by harvesting and preparing the inner veins of the palm leaves, called nepas. These are scraped, sun-dried, and split into thin, flexible strips called ripias. They become the raw material for crafting hats, bags, and more.

Natural Colors, Ancestral Dyeing

Zenú artisans use natural methods to dye caña flecha fibers. Strands are soaked in clay-rich soil, then boiled with native plants like jagua, bija, and banana peel to produce deep blacks. For whites, the fiber is boiled with caña agria and sun-dried. These black and white tones form the foundation of the symbolic patterns in Zenú designs.

How the Iconic Patterns Are Made

To create the signature patterns and forms, artisans begin by cutting and smoothing the fiber base. White palm strips are laid onto the surface, and the black strips are woven through them, starting from the center. The weaver lifts the white strands and tightly wraps the black ones around them to form asymmetrical designs called pintas—each one a unique cultural expression.

Each pass is carefully tightened to fully cover the base, and the fiber is shaped by hand to form the final piece. Designs evolve based on the purpose of the product.

Types of Braiding (Trenzado)

The beauty and flexibility of caña flecha come from how it's braided. Each braid is made using an odd number of strands—7, 9, 11, up to 31. The more strands used, the finer and more detailed the final product will be.

Different braiding techniques allow artisans to create everything from tightly woven, structured hats to soft, flexible bags. The number of strands, the quality of the fiber, and the artisan’s skill all contribute to the final form, function, and feel of the piece.

Every Bag Tells a Story

A caña flecha bag is more than just an accessory—it's a living expression of ancestral wisdom, natural materials, and the enduring craftsmanship of the Zenú people. Each piece is woven by hand, strand by strand, in a tradition so meaningful, it has earned global recognition by UNESCO.